Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

5,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyflavone inhibits the inflammatory effects induced by <i>Bacteroides fragilis</i> enterotoxin via dissociating the complex of heat shock protein 90 and I&kgr;B&agr; and I&kgr;B kinase-&ggr; in intestinal epithelial cell cultu

Kim, J. M.,Lee, D. H.,Kim, J. S.,Lee, J. Y.,Park, H.-G.,Kim, Y.-J.,Oh, Y.-K.,Jung, H. C.,Kim, S. I. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 Clinical and experimental immunology Vol.155 No.3

<P>Summary</P><P>Enterotoxin produced by enterotoxigenic <I>Bacteroides fragilis</I> (BFT) has been associated with mucosal inflammation and diarrhoeal diseases. In this study, the anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism of 5,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxyflavone (eupatilin) was characterized in an HT-29 intestinal epithelial cell line stimulated with BFT. Pre-treatment of HT-29 cells with eupatilin decreased the production significantly of both interleukin (IL)-8 and prostaglandin E<SUB>2</SUB> induced by BFT in a dose-dependent manner. BFT-activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-&kgr;B) signals in HT-29 cells and pretreatment with eupatilin suppressed NF-&kgr;B activation that resulted in the significant inhibition of IL-8 and cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression. BFT-induced phosphorylation of both I&kgr;B&agr; and I&kgr;B kinase (IKK) signals was prevented in eupatilin-pretreated HT-29 cells. Transfection of siRNA for IKK-&agr; and IKK-&bgr; decreased the production of IL-8 and prostaglandin E<SUB>2</SUB>; however, the transfection of IKK-&bgr; siRNA showed a more significant reduction of BFT-induced I&kgr;B&agr; phosphorylation compared with that of IKK-&agr; siRNA. In addition, herbimycin A, a specific inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), decreased the BFT-induced activation of IKK and NF-&kgr;B, suggesting that Hsp90 is associated with a pathway of IKK-NF-&kgr;B-IL-8/cyclo-oxygenase-2 gene signalling. Furthermore, eupatilin dissociated the complex between Hsp90 and IKK-&ggr; in BFT-stimulated HT-29 cells. These results suggest that eupatilin can suppress the NF-&kgr;B signalling pathway by targeting the Hsp90-IKK-&ggr; complex in intestinal epithelial cells and may attenuate BFT-induced inflammatory responses.</P>

Polymorphisms in the neurokinin-2 receptor gene are associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-induced cough

Kim, T.-B.,Oh, S.-Y.,Park, H.-K.,Jeon, S.-G.,Chang, Y.-S.,Lee, K.-Y.,Cho, Y. S.,Chae, I.-H.,Kim, Y.-K.,Cho, S.-H.,Moon, H.-B.,Min, K.-U.,Kim, Y.-Y. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics Vol.34 No.4

<P>Summary</P><P>Background and objective: </P><P>Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can induce chronic cough in many patients. Genetic variations in the neurokinin 2 receptor gene (NK2R) are significantly associated with cough sensitivity to capsaicin.</P><P>Methods: </P><P>This study assessed the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the NK2R gene and chronic cough in 91 patients taking ACE inhibitors. Patients included in the study did not have chest abnormalities, postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux or a recent history of upper respiratory infection.</P><P>Results: </P><P>We detected two single nucleotide polymorphisms in the NK2R gene (i.e., Gly231Glu and Arg375His). The allelic frequencies at amino acid 231 were 36·3% for Gly/Gly, 49·5% for Gly/Glu and 14·3% for Glu/Glu. The allelic frequencies at amino acid 375 were 74·7% for Arg/Arg, 24·2% for Arg/His and 1·1% for His/His. The prevalence of chronic cough in patients with the amino acid 231 genotype was 33·3% in Gly/Gly homozygotes, 24·4% in Gly/Glu heterozygotes and 0% in Glu/Glu homozygotes. There was a statistically significant association between chronic cough and the Glu/Glu allele (<I>P</I> = 0·028) when the data were analyzed with a recessive model. In addition, there was a significant inverse linear association between the number of Glu231 alleles and ACE inhibitor-related cough (<I>P </I>=<I> </I>0·026). The prevalence of chronic cough in patients with the amino acid 375 genotype was 22·1% in Arg/Arg homozygotes, 31·8% in Arg/His heterozygotes and 0% in His/His homozygotes, although none of these association were statistically significant.</P><P>Conclusion: </P><P>Our findings indicate that the Gly231Glu polymorphism is associated with a lower prevalence of ACE inhibitor-related cough.</P>

200 GeV/핵자 유황이온과 핵건판핵의 충돌에 의해 생성된 헬륨 파쇄핵의 극한파쇄 연구

김동철,송진섭,윤천실,정성헌,박인곤,김종오,김철수,김태연,이승희,조재희,천병구,김재률,김준원,김태익,박명렬,장한일,임인택 慶尙大學校 기초과학연구소 1992 基礎科學硏究所報 Vol.8 No.-

고에너지 중이온 원자핵과 핵건판의 충돌에서, 200GeV/핵자 유황이온에 의해 생성된 파쇄 헬륨핵(Z=2)의 실험실계의 방출각 분포는 표적핵에 무관한 회귀공식. dN=exp[a+k exp(η-y_b)]d[exp(η-y_b)]로 잘 표현된다. 여기에서 의사신속도 η=-ln[tan(θ/2)]이고, y_b는 실험실계의 입사입자(^32S)의 신속도이다. 이 공식에 의한 적합에서 k=-0.057±0.008로 얻어진다. 즉, 핵건판과 고에너지 중이온의 충돌에서 파쇄 헬륨핵의 exp(η-y_b)의 분포는 "극한파쇄" 현상을 잘 설명하고 있다. The angular distribution of emission angle θ of helium (Z=2) produced in the collisions of incident particles of 200 GeV/nucleon ^32S in nuclear emulsion is well expressed by dN=exp[a+k exp(η-y_b)]d[exp(η-y_b)] where the pseudorapidity is η=-ln[tan(θ/2)], the laboratory system primary rapidity is y_b, and k=-0.057+0.008. The shape of this frequency of occurrence distributions in terms of exp(η-y_b) attests to the validity of the concept of "limiting fragmentation" for helium projectile fragments produced in the projectile fragmentation regions of heavy ion collisions in nuclear emulsion.

Analysis of 22 Y chromosomal STR haplotypes and Y haplogroup distribution in Pathans of Pakistan

Lee, E.Y.,Shin, K.J.,Rakha, A.,Sim, J.E.,Park, M.J.,Kim, N.Y.,Yang, W.I.,Lee, H.Y. Elsevier Science 2014 FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL GENETICS Vol.11 No.-

We analyzed haplotypes for 22 Y chromosomal STRs (Y-STRs), including 17 Yfiler loci (DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DY438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y-GATA-H4) and five additional STRs (DYS388, DYS446, DYS447, DYS449 and DYS464), and Y chromosomal haplogroup distribution in 270 unrelated individuals from the Pathans residing in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan using in-house multiplex PCR systems. Each Y-STR showed diversities ranging from 0.2506 to 0.8538, and the discriminatory capacity (DC) was 73.7% with 199 observed haplotypes using 17 Yfiler loci. By the addition of 5 Y-STRs to the Yfiler system, the DC was increased to 85.2% while showing 230 observed haplotypes. Among the additional 5 Y-STRs, DYS446, DYS447 and DYS449 were major contributors to enhancing discrimination. In the analysis of molecular variance, the Pathans of this study showed significant differences from other Pathan populations as well as neighboring population sets. In Y-SNP analysis, a total of 12 Y chromosomal haplogroups were observed and the most frequent haplogroup was R1a1a with 49.3% frequency. To obtain insights on the origin of Pathans, the network analysis was performed for the haplogroups G and Q observed from the Pathans and the Jewish population groups including Ashkenazim and Sephardim, but little support for a Jewish origin could be found. In the present study, we report Y-STR population data in Pathans of Pakistan, and we emphasize the need for adding additional markers to the commonly used 17 Yfiler loci to achieve more improved discriminatory capacity in a population with low genetic diversity.

Reproduction and population dynamics of <i>Leptochela gracilis</i> (Decapoda: Pasiphaeidae) on the western coast of Korea, Yellow Sea

Oh, C.W.,Kim, J.Y.,Jeong, I.J.,Suh, H.L.,Cho, Y.K. Cambridge University Press 2006 Journal of the Marine Biological Association of th Vol.86 No.1

<P>Investigations were made on reproduction and population dynamics of <I>Leptochela gracilis</I> on the western coast of Korea, Yellow Sea, between May 2000 and October 2001. The egg volume was significantly larger at later egg stage than at early egg stage. Brood loss did not occur during the incubation period. Based on dry weight, the reproductive output (mass of incubating eggs/mass of female) averaged 0.18. The mature females first appeared in May, reached a peak in July and August, and then did not appear after September. The main breeding season was summer, although slightly different between the two years. A similar pattern could be found in monthly changes of gonadosomatic index (GSI), showing relatively higher GSI during the annual breeding season. A significant difference in ovarian dry weight between females with non-eyed eggs and eyed eggs indicates that ovarian maturation occurred during the embryonic development, suggesting that females were potentially consecutive breeders, capable of multiple spawning within a reproductive season. The size at which 50% of females were mature (CL50) was estimated as 7.63 mm carapace length. Females grew faster and reached a larger size at age than males (<I>L</I>∞=12.43 mm CL and <I>K</I>=0.90 y<SUP>−1</SUP> for females, and <I>L</I>∞=12.22 mm CL and <I>K</I>=0.58 y<SUP>−1</SUP> for males).</P>

1.88A GeV ^56Fe 중이온에 의해 원자핵건판 내에서 회절들뜸 및 준회절들뜸 기구로 생긴 다중발생

김종오,김태연,천병구,박인곤,송진섭,윤천실,박상렬,이경언,김재률,김태익,박명렬,임인택,장한일,박복남 慶尙大學校 기초과학연구소 1990 基礎科學硏究所報 Vol.6 No.-

원자핵건판 내에서 1.88A GeV의 에너지를 갖는 ^56Fe 중이온(heavy ion)의 평균자유행로는 비적추적법(along-the-track scanning method)을 사용하여 8.01±0.27㎝로 측정되었다. ^56Fe 주이온에 의한 회절들뜸반응을 KHP 판정법으로 찾아내었으며, 회절들뜸반응에 대한 평균자유행로는 0.86±0.10m로 측정되었다. 입사중이온의 정지계 내에서 ^56Fe 중이온에 의한 80개의 회절들뜸 및 준회절들뜸반응에 대한 알파입자와 단일하전 입자의 의사신속도 분포는 각각 (γ_a-η_b)_max=3.31, (γ_a-η_b)_max=2.30에서 최대값을 갖는 가우스분포함수 형태를 이루었다. By employing the method of along-the -track scanning. the mean free path of inelastic collisions for 1.8A GeV^56Fe heavy ion in nuclear emulsion is measured to be 8.01±0.27㎝. "Diffractive Excitation" events are identified by using the KHP method and the mean free path of diffractive excitation is measured to be 0.86±0.10m. The distributions of pseudorapidities of alpha and singly-charged fragments for diffractive excitation of 1.88A GeV ^Fe heavy ion are well fitted by Gaussian distribution function with peaks having (γ_a-η_b)_max=3.30 and (γ_p-η_b)_max=2.24.

A MALDI-MS-based quantitative glycoprofiling method on a 96-well plate platform

Kim, K.J.,Kim, Y.W.,Park, H.G.,Hwang, C.H.,Park, I.Y.,Choi, K.Y.,Yang, Y.H.,Kim, Y.H.,Kim, Y.G. Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemi 2017 Journal of industrial and engineering chemistry Vol.46 No.-

<P>Here, we developed a high-throughput MALDI-MS based quantitative targeted glycomics (HT MALDI-QTaG) method for analyzing total N-glycans. Although the chemical derivatization processes (i.e., neutralization of sialic acid and incorporation of a positively-charged moiety) were performed in a 96-well with built-in 10 kDa MWCO membrane filters, the quantitative linearity was still quite good (R-2 > 0.99) between varying amounts of the target glycoprotein and the MALDI peak intensities. In addition, we validated the relative quantitative reproducibilities in different well positions in a 96-well plate. As a proof-of-concept, the proposed HT MALDI-QTaG method was successfully used to analyze bovine fetuin, human serum and Enbrel (R). (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.</P>

RIHSA와 131I-Hippuran으로 측정한 심박출량의 비교

김정일,고창순,이안기,길광수,박진영,김동섭 대한핵의학회 1970 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.4 No.2

저자들은 정상성인 남자 11예에서 방사성동위원소인 RIHSA와 (131)^I-Hippuran을 사용하여 체외계측법에 의한 심박출량을 측정하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1) RIHSA를 사용한 심박출량의 측정치는 6750±866ml/min, 심계수의 측정치는 3960±476ml/min./㎡이었다. 2) 131I-Hippuran을 사용한 심박출량의 측정치는 5940±764ml/min, 심계수의 측정치는 3490±396ml/min./㎡이었다. 3) (131)^I-Hippuran에 의한 심박출량의 측정치는 RIHSA를 사용한 심박출량의 측정치의 88%로 나타났으며 양자간의 차이는 통계학적의미를 가지고 있었다(P$lt;0.05). 4) (131)^I-Hippuran을 사용하여 심박출량측정이 가능함을 알 수 있었다. Repeated measurement of cardiac output in the same 11 normal individuals were done with (131)^I-Hippuran and RIHSA. Following results were obtained. 1) The cardiac output measured with RIHSA was 6750±866ml/min. 2) The cardiac output measured with (131)^I-Hippuran was 5940±764ml/min. 3) The relative value of cardiac output measured with (131)^I-Hippuran to that measured with RIHSA was 88 percent, and a statistical significance was found present in the difference.

Fabrication of high temperature oxides dispersion strengthened tungsten composites by spark plasma sintering process

Kim, Y.,Lee, K.H.,Kim, E.P.,Cheong, D.I.,Hong, S.H. MPR Pub. Services 2009 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRACTORY METALS AND HAR Vol.27 No.5

The paper describes the fabrication process of high temperature oxides, such as Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>, HfO<SUB>2</SUB> and La<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>, dispersed tungsten composites by spark plasma sintering. The oxide contents varied from 0 to 5wt% and sintering was conducted for 3min at 1700<SUP>o</SUP>C. Among three kinds of oxides, Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> is the most efficient element to consolidate W powder. As dispersed up to 5wt% Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> into the matrix, the relative density of the W composite is increased up to nearly 100% of theoretical value. In order to analyze the effect of Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> particles on the densification of W powders, the microstructure of W-Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> composite is observed using the transmission electron microscopy. By this experiment, it is found that dark phases, which had been known as Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> phase, are composed of W, Y and O. Therefore, during sintering, W atoms move through Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> phases as well as W grain boundaries, thereby W and Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> are soluble, and so sinterability of W is enhanced. The hardness of the composite is increased from 350 to 510kg/mm<SUP>2</SUP> with increasing Y<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB> contents since the relative density is increased and the grain size is reduced from 20 to 4μm. However, in case of HfO<SUB>2</SUB> and La<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>, the hardness of the composites is decreased even though the grain size is reduced because of their lower relative densities.